Alright – so today we’ve got the honor of introducing you to Krutika Pillay. We think you’ll enjoy our conversation, we’ve shared it below.

Hi Krutika , thanks for joining us today. We’d love to hear about when you first realized that you wanted to pursue a creative path professionally.

Bharatanatyam is an Indian classical dance that is very intricate and requires years of rigorous training and discipline to master. As a child, when my mom was busy, my aunt would watch me and sometimes take me along to her dance lessons. I was just three years old when I first accompanied my aunt to her dance lessons. I would love being there and would imitate every step they practiced in my own way. Dancing came naturally to me, and I found joy in every movement I was there, dancing.
Both my mother, Mrs. Priyadarshini Hiremath and my aunt (my dance mom), Mrs. Kumudini Kharat had identified my passion for dancing. My mother enrolled me in Bharatanatyam dance lessons.
I started my formal training at the age of 4 years. I was fortunate to train under the esteemed guidance of Mrs. Anju Sirsikar and Mrs. Sundari Shehshadri, who instilled in me a deeper understanding of the art of Bharatanatyam. I also sought regular motivation and career guidance from my aunt, Mrs. Saroj Hiremath. I would cherish and make the most of every opportunity to perform.
At 15, I completed my Arangetram, a significant milestone in a Bharatnatyam dancers’ life. The ceremony was attended by notable regional movie stars and the Mayor of our city.
I think the most wonderful feeling during a dance performance is when I completely lose myself in the dance. At that point I find myself in the magical world of dance, I lose consciousness of everything around me, in that moment it’s just me and dance flowing through me.
Shortly after, I learned about a dance event that invited participants to showcase their own dance troupes. Although I didn’t have a team at the time, I felt a strong desire to participate. I reached out to a friend, and together we searched for other teens who also shared passion for dance. We also tried our best to motivate them to join us. I vividly remember those early days when we rehearsed in my backyard. To keep their energy and interest, I would offer some juice and snacks, creating a fun and welcoming environment.
Gathering the team, seeking their parents’ permission to participate, looking for a practice space, arranging costumes and of course, managing it all on a tight budget were a few big challenges. Taking one step at a time and with the support and help of my mother I was able to get it all done. Slowly but surely, we formed our first team of dancers. The excitement of collaborating and creating something unique was palpable. But I was also nerves and just wanted it to go well enough so that people like my work.
When the day of the performance arrived, we took to the stage with a mix of nerves and exhilaration and then the magic happened. In that moment, I saw my creativity unfold before me; it was transformative. The experience solidified my resolve to pursue a professional path in dance. I realized that this art form was not just a passion—it was my calling. To our delight, we won first prize for the dance and choreography. This also served as motivation for the rest of the team, and we continued performing this piece of dance at several events all over our state, and won 13 awards at various events for our first masterpiece. We also performed at All India Student Association Art Convention, Ferguson College Cultural night, amongst others. I never looked back. I continued to learn advanced dance techniques alongside teaching dance and pursuing choreography. The support of family ,my dedication, passion and determination towards this art form was a driving force to start teaching Bharatnatyam dance so I could share and pass along my skills to more people who are passionate about dancing.

Krutika , love having you share your insights with us. Before we ask you more questions, maybe you can take a moment to introduce yourself to our readers who might have missed our earlier conversations?

I am born into a traditional Indian family that values classical art and culture. Bharatanatyam is characterized by its graceful movements, intricate hand gestures, and rhythmic footwork. My dedication for this art led me to earn a degree in dance from Bharatiya Nritya Sansthan, and I cherished every opportunity to perform.
In addition, I have a Master’s degree from the University of Pune and have built a career in the corporate world, working with prominent companies like Amdocs and Volkswagen AG. Even while working, I continued to practice dance and teach at Shiksha NGO on weekends. I also took the opportunity to choreograph dance productions for esteemed events like the Pune Festival, Weekender Fashion, Music Video album for Nirmala Mata Foundation, Beauty Pageant and more
I moved to the U.S. when my son was just a couple of months old, transitioning into the role of a stay-at-home mom after leaving behind my corporate career. However, my love for dancing remained with me, and I found joy in exploring this country while spending time with my firstborn. Soon, I started taking him to the local library for story time, where I volunteered to teach the little kids some freestyle dancing. It felt like I had my wings back.
Before long, I received several opportunities to teach and choreograph for various community and cultural programs in Maryland, Florida, Colorado, and Virginia. The kids and women who participated expressed their interest in taking regular dance lessons, which led me to start teaching consistently.
My house wasn’t large enough for dance lessons, so I began with a few students at my community clubhouse, which had a small room. After a couple of months, I approached a Montessori school in my area to use their classroom after school hours. My husband has always been supportive of my pursuits, and I never had to worry about my son when I had to leave home for classes, rehearsals, or performances.
I am a passionate and dedicated Bharatanatyam dance teacher and practitioner, committed to nurturing students’ love for dance while instilling discipline, technique, and cultural understanding.
Traditional Indian dances are nurtured through the “Guru-Shishya Parampara,” a system where knowledge is passed down directly from teacher to student across generations. I adhere to this traditional method of teaching along with some viable modern techniques, as Bharatanatyam dance form requires many years of training to master every movement and fully learn a dance recital.
Preserving our cultural and artistic traditions is essential for fostering a strong and vibrant community. I truly appreciate the opportunities the Virginia community has provided me to showcase these timeless traditional dances.
As students embark on their Bharatanatyam journey over the years, they not only develop their dancing skills but also cultivate valuable qualities like patience, perseverance, collaboration, creativity, courage, multitasking, determination, and physical fitness. I believe that art connects us to our communities, and I have personally experienced this. Through my art, I have found it easy to connect with those around me.
I proudly affiliate with the International Dance Council (CID), a constituent of UNESCO. My students can get certification which reflects UNESCO accreditation upon finishing a certain number of hours of training. Additionally, I provide students with the opportunity to take grade-level exams through several reputed and recognized boards like Gandharva Mahavidyalaya and LACE Assessments. Students are assessed by qualified and experienced educators. Upon completion, students receive certifications for each exam they undertake, recognizing their achievements and proficiency in dance.
I hope that whatever career paths my students choose, the passion I instill in them will always draw them back to dance in some form. Bharatanatyam demands maximum concentration and discipline. After my rehearsals and lessons, I often feel exhausted but also immensely satisfied.
I often think about my role as a teacher in today’s learning environment. Today’s kids, the so-called Generation Z, engage actively through questions and hands-on experiences. My responsibility as a Bharatanatyam instructor is to ignite a passion for the art form, nurture creativity, and promote individuality. With changing needs, we must rethink how we teach. Mastering Bharatanatyam requires years of practice, and many students struggle early on. They might feel bored or overwhelmed, leading to a lack of motivation. I strive that my teaching methods and approach evolves beyond how I have traditionally learned this art from my Gurus, I take inspiration from my real-life experiences as a Bharatanatyam dancer and practitioner to keep them motivated.
The one question that I keep asking myself to come up with creative ideas for teaching is – How can I make dance lessons more than just physical training and keep my students interested in learning this art form? This urge sparks new ideas that I turn into activities to make learning Bharatnatyam more fun and memorable for my students.

Let’s talk about resilience next – do you have a story you can share with us?

In person lessons, practicing and learning Bharatanatyam as a group is a great experience. Collaborating with other dancers, the give and take during the abhinaya. The sound of the tapping of the foot and the talaam of the tattakali and off course the teacher often warning the dancers in her stern voice, to maintain their arai mandi posture. Overnight we were going to miss it all without any advance notice.
Like everyone else, the pandemic took a toll on me. I had to abruptly stop all my lessons, initially hoping for a two-week break before resuming. However, that didn’t happen, and I soon realized I needed to move my classes online. The thought of teaching Bharatanatyam in front of a screen was daunting.
In regular lessons, I could adjust students’ positions, correct their mudras, and help them find balance by holding their hand. But online, I couldn’t do any of that. Another challenge was ensuring they positioned themselves correctly on video; everything needed to be mirrored and specific. It was a tough adjustment, but I knew I had to adapt.
I found space for my online classes in my small condo by clearing out my son’s room, leaving only a small foldable bed that I moved to another room during lessons. With my husband working in the adjacent room and my son attending school from the dining area, our home was quite busy.
During my first online session, I felt overwhelmed. The connection lagged, and students struggled to set themselves up properly. Since it was a dance, I needed seeing them from head to toe, I often could only see their hands or feet, or a blurry image as they moved, making it hard to tell if they were following the steps correctly. I often lost sight of them on screen as they moved around while dancing. After that first lesson, I felt discouraged and thought this was never going to workout for me.
But my training in Bharatanatyam taught me resilience. This was a true test of the qualities I had developed through my dance journey. I reminded myself that while Bharatanatyam is challenging art form, it’s not impossible. And that I had successfully acquired the art of Bharatanatyam dancing fighting all the odes. I researched the technical requirements and created a list of instructions for my students to set up their laptops and cameras. I recorded the steps I was planning to teach so I could share on screen for students to follow, allowing me to focus on observing and correcting their movements. To keep their energy up, I made engaging slides and recorded class highlights for students to review later. I also created a folder where they could record and share their practice videos.
With these plans in place, I got back on my feet. Since we were missing performance opportunities, we even organized an online recital. Which was watched live by friends and families across US and abroad. We not only survived the tough times but also learned valuable life lessons and discovered effective ways to learn in a remote setting. Now, we feel happy and blessed to be back in our traditional environment
Since I was teaching from home, I often caught my husband and son murmuring the hasta mudras and sahityam (lyrics/notes) from the dances I was teaching to my students. Asamayuta hasta and the song “Padha Neelaj Moole” were among their favorites. One memorable moment during an online class stands out: I asked my students a question, and to my surprise, I got a spontaneous reply in a male voice answering from the other room. It was my husband! The entire class erupted into laughter, adding a lighthearted touch to our virtual session. It was a delightful reminder of how interconnected our lives had become through dance.

Looking back, are there any resources you wish you knew about earlier in your creative journey?

Every art form and artist needs a platform to grow, showcase their talent, and reach a wider audience. While my students and I performed at various events, we weren’t reaching as many people as we could have. I view teaching this art as a sacred passion, a way to pass it on to the next generation, rather than a business. As a result, I didn’t focus much on marketing or publicity. I relied on traditional methods and waited for word-of-mouth referrals to spread the word about my work.
Soon I realized that many people use social media to communicate, create an identity, raise awareness, and send messages to society. Understanding this was enlightening for me. In today’s fast-paced world, it’s essential to embrace technology and effectively utilize social media tools. I wish I had known earlier in my creative journey how to leverage platforms like Facebook, Google, and Instagram to promote my dance lessons, help more people discover us and share the joy of pursuing and practicing Bharatanatyam. It wasn’t until I discovered the potential of social media that everything changed.
I created Facebook and Instagram pages, where I began sharing small ideas and celebrating achievements. This not only raised awareness about my classes but also encouraged my students through appreciation posts. Setting up a profile on Google was another game-changer, as I was thrilled to receive inquiries and reviews as a result.
While I regret not recognizing the importance of these tools sooner, I believe it’s never too late to start. My experiences have taught me that it’s okay to go back and restart multiple times. Embracing new resources has been a valuable part of my growth as a Bharatanatyam teacher and practitioner.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.shreekaladance.com/
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/shreekala.dance?utm_source=qr&igsh=MThscHRpMmd2YzFqeA==
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/ShreekalaDance
• Yelp: https://www.yelp.com/biz/shreekala-dance-school-herndon?utm_campaign=www_business_share_popup&utm_medium=copy_link&utm_source=(direct)

Image Credits

These pictures are taken from my phone. Have no credits to add